"And thy days shall be spent in the service of thy God" (Hilary) and photos!

Hi everyone! Love you all! 

Although I LOVE missionary work, 

I have to admit, I LOVE Mondays as well because I LOVE hearing from 

my family and friends. 

You are all the greatest!

Okay, last week was LOCA! We worked so hard and it was so rewarding. The divisions went really really well. I had a lot of fun with these sisters. I am learning from them and I hope I am helping them.

So, today/yesterday are "transfers" and Hermana Galdame is going to head back to her area now when she receives her new companion. Guess who else is going to be receiving a nuevita.... YO. Finally I am going to have an HIJA. I have finished the training of a couple missionaries, but never started the training, so I hope it turns out okay. I am excited. We'll see how it turns out with our assignment as sister leaders as well. It will be a lot of balancing and everything, but it should be cool. I am excited. I'll let you all know what happens this week.

Okay, usually I write down a list of all of the things I need to write about, but I forgot to this week. I apologize!

Dad, I love you and hope you are doing well!   Mom, I couldn't read all of your email yet, but how cool that you ran into that couple! Please ask her from what part of Quito!!! Maybe I can visit her family (the daughter that is still here...). Please send me a copy of your notes from all those classes! They all sound soooo good!!

I don't know what to do about BYU yet. I will probably talk to President next month... Don't want him to think I am trunky yet. And about housing. When Sam Harris was here we always said we were going to live together. But she might be getting engaged soon and from there who knows what will happen. Kenz said that there is a girl in her ward moving out for winter semester and she asked if I wanted her to save the spot for me. I know you are soo sooooo busy, but if there is a day you find yourself in Provo, can you go see what the apartment complex THE COLONY is like. I asked her what the girl's roommates are like. I might just want to choose a place when I get home, you know? It seems like there are always people rushing to get out in November/December when they get engaged/get a job/get an internship, etc. What do you think?

Sam, I have an investigator here that has lived in "las isla canarias" for ten years. I don't remember how to say that in English. What is the latest? I miss you. I didn't get any email this week. Hope you are doing well.

Okay, everything is great! I love being a missionary and I love MY mission. The most random things make me reflect and remember how happy I am and how grateful I am. SERIOUSLY SO BLESSED, ¿sí o qué?

Okay, love you all! Thanks again for everything! I am sending photos!

Sister Norton

          

"I can´t believe i´m saying this but I would love to be baptized..." (Sam)

Hey family and friends! Oh how I wish we could catch up face to face! :D

A 3year old Elder Norton

Things are great here. The missions going fast and its not slowing down. My last summer in the mission is phasing out... O.O... and with this new group of 37 missionaries coming into to missing next week 2/3 of the mission will have 3 transfers or less of field experience............. WOAH. Sooo many new missionaries, its incredible. We gotta go back to the basics and build a good base of good simple proven principles. We teach simple doctrine. The investigator feels the Spirit's simple promptings. Then once investigators take the simple step of entering into God´s path they become a changed person.

It sounds like things are going well back home. Busy busy people!! A HUGE part of me does not want to get thrown back into the busy stressful world.... and now that I think about it.. its not really the busy or stressful part of it that matter.. in fact, our work here in the office is busy and stressful.... haha but the thing that sets it apart is that its for a more important purpose than what I see myself doing after the mission. SALVATION.. hah thats why we can just go and go and go here. That´s why young talented people with huge potential devote priceless time of their lives to do something that to the world seems pointless. WE KNOW BETTER. :D

I never did get last weeks emails.. and it did seem weird to me but you don´t have to worry so much! :P hah Hermana Deere did call me and told me what was up. She told me about her dream too.. haha did she give you guys a detailed version? I can fill you in if not, it was funny.

Our week was good. Actually got a lot of stuff done.. that our numbers obviously don´t show.. we had a good week. We have been really blessed. Like REALLY blessed with good, prepared investigators that want to learn and attend church and make covenants with God. Heavenly Father knows our situation.. but he also knows our desires to teach and find and baptize. He´s got us in the back of his mind.. ;) The two philipino ladies are doing well. Working a ton.. and the daughter had to move into Málaga for work and we don´t think she´s going to be able to come to church on sundays..... :\ we don´t know how long she´ll have the job either. Maybe when summer ends she´ll move back this way. We don´t know. Last week they didn´t come to church cuz they were talking with their boss about not having to work on sundays. COOL. See how prepared these people are?????? :D We just waiting now since we can´t meet with them during the work cuz of work... >:\ We visited M and her family yesterday with the branch president´s son S thats the same age as M's oldest son. They´re doing well and have been able to receive a little bit of funding from the church to travel to church this sunday. I guess the branch president has tried it before but there were problems with catching the 6:45 am bus with 4 kids........ understandable. We committed her to coming this sunday, tomorrow, and she said she would leave her two young daughters with her mother and come with the boys. We´re calling tonight to confirm and tomorrow morning at SIX AM to help wake them up. We´ll see! Pray with us please!! :) The Lord blessed us with an incredible miracle about a week ago! A fantastic woman that is friends with one of the english members that spends half the year in england and half in spain starting meeting with the missionaries and attending church in england when she was visiting home (she lives in spain). Her name is Ma. and she came back to spain ready and searching for the missionaries so that she could continue with what she had started there in england. She is soooo prepared! She met a LOT with the missionaries in england and they basically prepared her like a birthday cake; measured, mixed, poured, baked, frosted, and ready with a cherry on top. :D We received this ´´cake´´ in the form of an email to our branch mission leader. He printed it off and handed it over to us. I called her the day after she got to spain and we met with her the next night at a members house that lives close by. She was ecstatic to meet again and we felt the spirit and the love that the members had for her so strongly that night. My companion and I both felt strongly to invite her to baptism in this lesson and she accepted like this... ´´I would love to be baptized. I can´t believe i´m saying that but I would love to be baptized...´´ ................O.O.......... :D So she has a baptismal date for the 15th of september, the same day as the two philipinos. We´re really excited for her. She´s coming to church this sunday and trying to bring her mom who is ´´interested´´ in her words. hmmmm we´ll see! :) So anyways, we´re seeing miracles!!

The apartment hunt is moving along. We´ve been having some struggles with two or three cities but I think we´ll figure it out. Its all coming together. Don´t worry about the money thing with the realtors agencies. I basically can never do that cuz I´m never really in the cities that we rent apartments in. I did for that one cuz it was in Málaga, 25 minutes away. It was actually a really cool experience. Something I won´t forget. The missionaries are all coming a week from this tuesday. the 3rd and 4th of september. The BIG TRANSFER WEEK! We´re excited.

Oh! One other thing real quick before I end.. This week has been FINDING WEEK in our mission. Its been so interesting to see how President Clegg did things as mission president and now how President Deere does things as mission president.. cuz the way they do things is soo different.  ...... President Deere has organized, with the help of the APs and the Zone Leaders,  three huge goals. 555 new investigators in one week. 250 baptismal dates the next week, and 100 baptisms in September. A ´´new investigator´´ is someone you pray with, teach something, and set up a return appointment with. This week is the week we are shooting for that goal and right now we are at 436 new investigators.... as of yesterday actually.. :) so we´re ahead by a little... (and to put things into perspective.... we normally find between 160 and 200 investigators every week. Our record is... like 230.. or something.) And out of the news from this week we´re gonna set 250 baptismal dates in the next two weeks and then in september we´ll baptize 100! Anyways, thought I´d fill you in on our goals.

I gotta run! Love you guys!

Élder Norton

PS   I did receive the two packages you sent recently by the way. I´m sending an SD card back soon. Thanks!

"So trusting my all to thy tender care, And knowing thou lovest me, I'll do thy will with a heart sincere: I'll be what you want me to be." (Hilary)

Hi everyone! 

Thanks for writing!

I love hearing from my family! It is the greatest part of p-day. I love the pictures you all send. I can't believe how much Sienna is growing!! She looks a lot like Caden and Branson, right? She is so adorable.  I also loved the snapshot. It looks like Mom enjoyed St. George. I hope Adam is doing well and enjoying his summer. I can hardly believe he is fourteen. That amazes me. I also love hearing from my dad. I love him so so much. Thanks to everyone. Sorry I don't respond specifically to each and every comment/question. I hope you all have had a great week.

 

Our week went well. It has been a challenge working in two sectors but I have felt like we have been able to balance things out okay and we will do much better this week. This week we will spend Monday and Thursday in Cumbayá, Tuesday and Friday doing splits in Pusuqui and Prados (we tried to do divisions last week with these companionships but they told us they wouldn't be able to) and Wednesday and Saturday in Iñaquito. Each one of our investigators has been running into different types of opposition, which is always to be expected. I feel that as I learn principles such as faith, patience, and hope, Heavenly Father always tests me on what I learned to see if I am willing to put it into practice. I am doing my best recognizing my weaknesses so that I can improve. CA is doing really well and so is Ce. A. The rest are also doing well, but progressing slowly. We continue to meditate, pray, and fast for each and everyone of them to be able to know how to help.

President Richardson the other day challenged us to all to read the Book of Mormon as a mission. He gave us all a new copy of the book that we are marking specific parts in specific colors. I am enjoying it, and, just like every other time I read it, I am learning something new every day. Recently I have been keeping track of a few of the scriptures I have found that remind me about how if I have faith and do my part, Heavenly Father will always fulfill His promises (Moroni 7:26, D&C 11:8). I liked 1 Nephi 15:11 because it reminded me of that theme that I had been studying. I am so grateful for the Lord's willingness to help us all in our important searches. And I received the talk from Mom today in Pouch that said, 

"The ability to qualify for, receive, and act on personal revelation is the single most important skill that can be acquired in this life." (Sister Julie B. Beck, April 2010) 

I loved that and remembered that here in the mission I have learned to recognize more the Spirit in my life and I am learning to be more obedient to be able to deserve his companionship and guidance. The gift of the Holy Ghost is something I value greatly.

My companions are great. We are having fun and laughing a lot. They are hilarious.

Thank you so much for helping out and sending the money for a new camera. I just bought a really good one and did a lot of searching and got it at the best price. I am so grateful for you all. 

We have been working hard and I know the Lord is blessing us and will continue to bless us according to our efforts.

Hermana Norton

The following are the words to one of the hymns that has become really important for me during the mission. They're in Spanish, but I love it like this and I hope ya'll can translate it.

Quizás no tenga yo que cruzar

montañas ni ancho mar;

quizás no sea a lucha cruel

que Cristo me quiera enviar.

Mas si Él me llama a sendas que

yo nunca caminé,

confiando en Él, le diré: Señor,

a donde me mandes, iré.

A donde me mandes iré, Señor,

a montañas o islas del mar.

Diré lo que quieras que diga, Señor,

y lo que Tú quieras, seré.

Habrá palabras de fe y paz

que me mande el Señor decir;

yo sé que en sendas de la maldad

hay seres que redimir.

Señor, si Tu quieres mi guía ser,

la senda seguiré;

Tu bello mensaje podré anunciar,

y lo que me mandes diré.

A donde me mandes iré, Señor,

a montañas o islas del mar.

Diré lo que quieras que diga, Señor,

y lo que Tú quieras, seré.

Habrá quizás algún lugar,

en viñas de mi Señor,

en donde pueda con fe servir

a Cristo mi Salvador.

Y siempre confiando en Su bondad,

Sus dones recibiré.

Alegre, haré Su voluntad,

y lo que me mande, seré.

A donde me mandes iré, Señor,

a montañas o islas del mar.

Diré lo que quieras que diga, Señor,

y lo que Tú quieras, seré.

"I was expecting someone ...older ..." (Sam)

I´m finally finding apartments!!

Prayer works! I´ve been praying non stop about the huge load of apartments that I have to rent for the transfer that starts in a week and a half and yesterday and the day before I saw like 5 miracle apartments just fall into our laps. SO THANKFUL.

My FOR SURE HIGHLIGHT of the time I´ve spent in the office was one of those MILAGROS. 

We´d been looking for an apartment in the 3rd ward of Málaga for a while and we found one that the missionaries liked. I started working with the real estate company and they had several complaints and things they wanted to change in the contract. And I thought.. "awesome, another one thats gonna take weeks of email battles and 50 changes to the contract", which btw is made by the church that they ask us not to change. Then the next night the missionaries called me again and said.." hey! we found a different, newer apartment for almost the same price and the realtor lady wants to talk with you right now!" So I started talking with her, she was really pushy about the ´´reservation $´´ or the ´´sign´´ that is paid to say that we wanted to reserve the apartment... and I was calm and direct.. like...
 ´´ok well I´d like to make it clear the we won´t be able to make any payments until
the owner understands and accepts the contract.´´
And she tried to like blow it off and convince me it wouldn´t matter... but I made it clear that i wouldn´t even go into Málaga to sit down until I had sent them the contract for the owner to read. :) So she finally gave in a little and realized that I knew what i was doing. hah. She got the owner's information and sent it to me, I made the contract really quick, and sent it to her so she could start reading it with the owner, and we headed into Málaga. Not to mention that its like 8 pm, and this real estate agency was about to close. We get there and both of the women that were working there AND the owner all turn to my companion (tall, wide kid from idaho) and started presenting themselves like.. "hello, elder Norton right??" hahaha and my comp just kind of steps aside... and I was like
"hi... uhh Yeah i´m elder Norton." And the lady goes.... "I was just talking with you on the phone?? You just made this contract??" haha, and then they were like... "I was expecting someone... older.... :D (not the first time thats been said to me.. its hilarious to watch people's reactions) So we sit down and they start asking a couple simple questions, just to kind of test me and whatnot. Then the head lady kind of just dives in for the kill... she´s like.. ´´ok well great. Now that your here, I´ll have you sign here ... Then the owner will take the contract home to be able to read it nice and tranquilamente (tranquilly???)
and then next week we´ll come together and iron out the contract details.´´
hoping I would be like..´´OKAY HERES YOUR MONEY. BYE!!´´
 (its funny cuz the realtors just want the contract to get signed cuz they´re not committing to anything)
 and I was like...
´´woah woah, I told you on the phone, I can´t sign till the owner reads the contract.´´
and then I explained that is our policy and we can't budge from it. AND that we had another (haha, leverage)

apartment in the city that we were already looking at that.
The two ladies in the agency wanted to leave and close the store but they weren´t gonna get their cabbage till the owner was in agreement with the contract, hah! ...
 and we had alllll the time in the world. :D haha so everytime the owner had even a small question or doubt, I didn´t even have to say anything.. :)   I just basically sat there waiting... while the realtor lady explained OUR contract... and the guy ended up agreeing with EVERYTHING. :P :P :P haha So I paid the reserve, we signed a couple papers, we shook their hands, and we were outta there. :)  It was honestly the most fulfilling thing! And plus it was reeeally nice to get an apartment basically rented in one night.
BLESSINGS FROM HEAVENLY FATHER.

   Long story but I hope you liked it. Yesterday, I got information for another FOUR apartments too. Other HUGE miracle. Everythings coming together and its exciting.

Anyways, now I don´t have much time. Things are good! The Lord blesses those who ask. Lets see His hand more. I love you all! We´ll talk soon enough. We´re already halfway through august! we´ll be skyping again before we know it! :D ADIOS

Élder Norton

"...a shout out to my earthly dad. I am convinced he is the greatest of them all!" (Hilary)

We have very little time to write today! I have been in the offices and picking up missionaries and dropping off others all day and now there isn't much time to write, I apologize! But the week has been great and lots is going on!

Well, Hermana Cantos has seen her last days with a missionary badge. Tomorrow she'll be released! I have really enjoyed my time with her and I am seriously going to miss her. She has been a great example to me and I have loved serving with her. I hope to be able to visit her in the future!!! I love her!!

I received two new companions: Hermana Bastidas (Ecuador) and Hermana Galdame (Argentina). Hermana Bastidas is the new Hermana Leader (with me) and Hermana Galdame jokes that she is our "secretary".... Haha!

The transfers are all crazy because we are trying to change our transfers calendar so it's not the same as the mission Quito so that the offices (same building, different floors) aren't crazy full on transfers day. So this transfer ends in two weeks, and until then we are a threesome. The two are super great. We are going to have a lot of fun. I am excited. 

C. A. is doing really well. Had an interview with President this week and it went well. He is telling everyone about his baptism that will happen in a couple weeks when a member gets ordained as a... presbitero. (I don't remember what that is in English.) C. C. (the C. that came from NY and was really struggling) is doing well. He has to have an interview with President as well this week, and is actually running into some opposition, but we are doing what we can to help him. We found a couple other new investigators this week that are great. O., for example, was a taxi driver we contacted a couple weeks ago. We don't usually give our number to many, but I felt like I should write it down on a little hand out card and give it to him and Wednesday he called. He said he really wanted to get together and he accepted a baptismal date. It was neat. I don't know what will happen in the future. I hope this is his time and I know that he will accept the gospel, but I just was really impressed with how everything played out. Few taxistas turn into investigators. COOL. It was really interesting what he said when we met him. "Things have worked out for me and I have been happy, but their has been one problem: I am not doing things the Lord's way. I know I need to come closer to Him."

I read a talk this week that I really liked. I think it was Elder Bednar talking about tender mercies. After studying I was meditating in some of the tender mercies I have seen in my life recently. I was filled with gratitude as I pondered in all the blessings I receive from the Lord. He is so aware of us and is so willing to bless us. I know that He cares about the littlest things - He is detail-oriented! And even with little things that shouldn't matter in the long run, He is willing to bless us and help us and provide us comfort. He is so loving.

a Daddy-Daughter Date in 1997

Speaking of dads, I just wanted to make a shout out to my earthly dad. I am convinced he is the greatest of them all. I love you so much, Dad and I want you to know how grateful I am for you. Sometimes I think about how much I love you and I just wish I could give you a giant hug and express my thanks. So, through the computer, I am sending my hug. I love you and mom so, so much. Thanks for all you do.

A couple of scriptures I have been pondering this week... D&C 11:8... Moses 1:39 "MY work" + D&C 11:20 "YOUR work." We should be participating in both, right? It is interesting that the scripture in Moses is so well known, but not the similar scripture in D&C 11. Interesting. I like it a lot. The Lord only asks of us to strive to be obedient. And then He blesses us and blesses us and blesses us (Mosiah 2:20-24).

Okay, I am going to see if I can write a couple more emails. I love you all! Hagan lo justo!

Hermana Norton

"My new Mission Motto: Missionary Work is a Treasure Hunt" (Sam)

Helloooo!

My new Mission Motto: 

Missionary Work is a Treasure Hunt  

Anyone remember this treasure hunt? Name the movie...

   I wish I would´ve had it from the start! This past monday and tuesday we had a fantastic ´´concilio´´ which on google translate comes out as counsel. Its basically the monthly meeting held in the mission home with president, his wife, the APs and office elders, all the zone leaders, and all the sister training leaders (what Hilary is). Its more or less 40 people and they are the most spiritual and most motivating set of meetings. Sister Deere speaks, the APs have a workshop they teach and President teaches two seperate times. Then tuesday we have more of a concilio part of it which means like.. discussion and input and feedback from missionaries and whatnot. The monthly concilios are what allow missionaries get their thoughts and input to President and then they let president and the APs get their messages to the mission cuz the APs and and Training sisters take the lessons back to their zones and areas.

   So anyways.. One of President's workshops was on ´´Faith to find´´ and how ´´missionary work is a treasure hunt.´´ There are souls waiting to be found and helped! They are all around us! We just have to go out and dig a little and ask around and eventually we will find them. That´s my new motto that I´ve taken on. I hope that i will be able to really put it into practice and live it when I have more time in the streets.

   Thank you for the updates and for Will´s email! I'm going to write him! He´s closer to me than he is to you... :)

 I got the package! Thanks, it was really fun. Thank the YW (I think it was the young women......?) for their presents. :) Today we went to a famous site called Ronda so the treats and especially the Gushers came in handy. :) 

I´ll attach pictures of our adventures. COOL COOL PLACE.

I don´t have much time today but a quick update on some people.. We set fechas bautismales with the two filipino ladies that´ve been coming to church. I may have mentioned that. They´re doing great. M. and her family didn´t come...... :(( which is sad/frustrating cuz of the fact they said they´d come but at the same time its very understandable. Its like asking a single mother of 4 kids (two of which are younger than 8) to bring her family to our church in pleasant grove on bus from northern salt lake city............................. SIGH. Its a frustrating situation.

Office stuff is going well.. getting ready for the sept group. Its scary even to think about, hah. It´ll go well though. I´ve been praying and have actually felt the Lord´s help with this crazy piso situation... Its unreal to rent this many pisos in this little time...... AND President is still yet to tell me two more cities that we´re going to need pisos in THREE WEEKS. Just pray for me... :)

Anyways, sorry its not longer. I´m well and happy! Enjoy the photos and send me an SD card pronto! mine´s full of pictures you´ll wanna see! :)

Élder Norton

"I've always known that service is important, but before my mission it wasn't my favorite pastime ... My mission has changed me in a lot of ways though, and one of those changes is my love for serving others." (Hilary)

"Greatest in the Kingdom" by J. Kirk Richards

I can hardly believe August is already here! We are more than halfway into 2013. Sorry I begin all my emails stating how quickly time passes. I bet it gets redundant (and repetitive. and redundant. and repetitive.) (Mom, are you excited to watch Gilmore Girl's when I get home?)

We had a good week. We did two divisions: Calderon 2 and Calderon 1. They both went really well. The fact that we have the opportunity to do divisions here as sister missionaries is such a blessing. There is so much to learn and I truly believe it helps us all regain "ànimos." Tuesday I did divisions with Hermana P, who is doing really well. She has less than two weeks in the field. She opened up to me and also in all of the appointments. We went over the authority she has a missionary and encouraged her to teach with confidence. She is also putting more emphasis in companionship inventory and developing Christlike attributes. She and her companion are doing better now; I was able to help on her end, and Hermana Cantos helped her companion, Hermana V. Hermana P is a great missionary. She is nervous, as all new missionaries are, but really wants to learn and work. She is very kind and loving. Friday I did divisions with Hermana O and she as well is doing really well. It had been tough for them to start "opening" the sector, but because I had served in that ward I was able to help and it was a really successful day. Hermana O is driven and focused and obedient. She is an excellent missionary.

Tuesday was one of the greatest days ever because I got to go back to my favorite sector, Calderon. All of my converts are doing really well (attending, getting the melchesidek (sp?) priesthood, M. A. is visiting a family of investigators that are going to get baptized soon and he always bears his testimony). Jenny F. went tracting with us for the day and she didn't know beforehand that I would be doing divisions there, so when we went to pick her up and her husband opened the door that all were excited and shouting. I think I forgot to mention that a few weeks ago their family came to Iñaquito for the meetings on Sunday to visit. It was so sweet. I love them so much. It was also neat because the sisters in Calderon are working with the wife of a recent convert. In March, just before Hermana Ellis went home, I contacted Ju.. in the street and we passed the reference to the elders. Her husband was baptized three weeks later, but she couldn't get baptized because she studies Sundays. Well in a few weeks her classes end and she wants to get baptized. She reads the BOM everday and is always listening to church music and sharing the gospel with her family members. Anyway, it was fun to visit her and so cool to see their progress and everything. I love missionary work. It is very rewarding.

Doing divisions has been a blessing for me in many ways. I know I always have much to do to improve and I feel especially humbled in this assignment. There is always so much I am reminded of when I work with each hermana and so much I learn from each one of them.

We have also had a few opportunities to do service, with members and also with the sisters in Calderon. I have always known that service is important, but before my mission it was never my "favorite pastime." My mission has changed me in a lot of ways though, and one of those changes is my love for serving others. We literally exhausted ourselves this week in helping others and it felt great. There is a family here of five, four kids and the mom (Mz. family). Her husband passed away a few years ago and they have been looking for a house. A few weeks ago they had everything ready to move into a house here in Quito and the sellers had been dishonest and things fell through. Some members let them stay in their house while they were looking and Hermana Mz. literally spent every day searching and searching for a place to live. She would leave at 7 am and get home at 8 pm. We did what we could to help in the search as well. Finally Tuesday they found a place and we helped them to clean it and move in. It was really interesting though. I was just really impressed by their faith. It was a really happy week for them and the three daughters bore their testimonies ... VVVV

Our investigators are doing well. They are all progressing and it so encouraging to see the difference in them. Yesterday was a trial because only three of them attended church Sunday, and two who had previously been attending didn't show up. It was a bummer. We were fasting and I felt like we had worked so hard this week, not necesarily in our own sector, but in helping others, and I guess I had high hopes of what blessings I would be receiving. The Lord knows all we do and He always answers prayers. I have always known that. But I think in moments of difficulty we sometimes start to forget that He always fulfills. I recognized that after a couple minutes I had started to wonder why things weren't turning out the way I had wanted. But when the testimony meeting began I was reminded why. Also I was reminded of my need to repent for having murmured (in my mind). God's timing for all things is perfect. He knows best. Things will turn out not how we would like, but how God has them planned and that is the best way. It was a humbling experience. I am so grateful for Sunday meetings and know Heavenly Father is aware of me and what I need to learn, and He has a bright future for each and every one of us, including our investigators.

I talked to Hermana P M R and she said she would talk to her niece and get that all worked out with the package. I got the two packages you sent -- THANK YOU SO MUCH. I am always so excited to receive packages! Some of the things were for my companion and I am sure she is very grateful. Thank you so much for always helping.

I am feeling really great. I really feel like I am better and it is lasting now. THANK YOU ALL for your prayers and fasts. I really see the blessings and I want you to know how grateful I am. The asea helps but I am good for the moment, I will let you know when I need more.

Hermana Dàvila is doing well. The other day I got a package from her with a little coin purse that has my name on it (it says "Ñaña Norton", ñaña is sister in Kichwa). She is so sweet. I care so much about each companion I have had.

Did Adam get the postcard I sent awhile ago for his birthday?! It sounds like it went well. I can't believe he is 14! I LOVE YOU ADAM. Send me pictures of the celebrations.

I LOVE YOU ALL. Thanks for everything!

Hermana Norton

"and then we turn and look at each other and laugh, cuz thats us!" (Sam)

I found this old Photo Booth picture on my computer and had to share it 

Hello to one and all!

   I´m not going to be able to write a lot this week, but know that all is well. We´ve been able to have several really good lessons with people and it feels so good to get out and teach. We met with the estonian family again and they´re doing great. They read, pray, they have questions for us. I think the mom and the two older sons are coming to church this sunday!.. Its exciting!! We´ve completely lost contact with the german man we had set a baptismal date with. We´ve gone by his house (house... I say house but its honestly a poorly made long wood shed.. that doesn´t even really belong to him) several times and he´s never there... We´re worried they kicked him off of that land cuz its not his. We´ll see.

   The piso hunt is going well. I got in contact with like 4 more this last week. I´m finishing them up and I honestly feel like such a boss sometimes.... :) cuz i´m working with all these real people and dealing with such real situations. I know that sounds weird but the Lord trusts us with such important things.. and sometimes it just hits me about how real our work is! I got a phone call today from and Elder that had been pick-pocketed on a train and his two credit cards and his passport along with a bunch of money were stolen... And he called me! :D So we´re helping him get new cards and a new passport and everything. Hah sometimes we joke about when there's some big job or big assignment that has to get done... my comp and I look at each other and say... "oh no! Problem, we´ll just call  the mission office elders and they´ll take care of it" ............................ and then we turn and look at each other and laugh cuz thats us! We´re totally learning the ins and outs and little itty bitty small details of the office and how to run an organization. It is amazing how much goes into it. The mutual goal of ours, as well as the office couple, is to: save/take care of the street missionaries time. We want to do everything we can so that all the other missionaries don´t even have to worry, and so they can just work work work. I feel fulfilled getting to do things like that and help missionaries with those kinds of things. And, at the same time, i´m learning more about myself... for example, how I wouldn´t like to have an office or even a sit down computer job for my career. Cada persona tiene su manera. The people say that a lot. "everyone´s got their own way" basically... their own way of doing things. I´ve realized I like to be with people more and I like hands on tasks. Things I can start and finish, and things that allow me to help people be happy.

   I don´t know if I ever mentioned this family I worked with in Málaga... a family of romanians that the parents couldn´t get married cuz of the money issue but the kids were all baptized except for the youngest cuz she was like 7. Well, now that i´m back in the málaga fuengirola area... p-day mornings we play soccer at the same court we played at when I was serving in malaga ... and I saw that family today. They´re doing great! They are active, the youngest one is getting baptized tonight! Its fun. They´re so happy.

   The APs mentioned something the other day... I don´t know how legit it is yet.......... but they said that president has been thinking about testing some iPads in the mission and would probably start with the APs and probably the office elders! :P :P :P I´m pumped! It will not only make teaching more fun for us but soo much more interactive for the people and way more effective. Really! So i´ll keep you updated on that one. 

   Well I love you all! Mom, I agree with you one hundred percent about the Holy Ghost. It is often the last person we recognize when in reality it is the source of so much help from heaven. I have been receiving lessons on his role a lot lately. I think about teaching situations as missionaries. Honestly one of the hardest things for missionaries in general is sharing the teaching time. I am the biggest victim... I can speak when I want ... but sometimes I get carried away Because I Can say what i want... you know? So many times my companions bring that up with me and its something I´m constantly working on. But think about it... How often does the Holy Ghost get his chance to teach a little, and explain a little, and maybe share a spiritual experience or two........... never! And too often do we exclude his clear teachings just because of pure ignorance... when in reality we need to try to have those ´´awkward silences´´... because that is the moment the Spirit confirms the message to the investigators mind. It is true for Any teaching situation. 3 seconds minimum after teaching any principle for that principle to STICK... Interesting thoughts. LISTEN TO THE SPIRIT. HAVE MORE ´´down time´´ TO JUST MEDITATE. 

 Mom I got your letter and your talk! Read it that day and used it in the lesson with the Estonian family. M., the mother, was having those exact questions. THANK YOU FOR FOLLOWING THE SPIRIT AND SENDING THAT TO ME.

Love you all!

BYE

Élder Norton

"... then they started to try to take the mic from me." (Hilary)

Hi everyone! Thanks for writing!

Sean McClellan is in Ecuador in one of my old sectors
and ran into a family that knows me...
Sent me this picture this morning. hahaha

So fun to hear from you all! It has been a crazy week. And it flew by. I can hardly believe it. I hope I get to finish my mission here! There is a lot of potential in this sector and I am really enjoying the challenges as well. C A is a friend of a member here. He has been attending church for a couple weeks now and is really interested. He has absorbed everything and is very believing. Yesterday in Gospel Principles we taught about the church in ancient times and the church in these days. He understood well and was determined to later offer his own prayer to know if it was all true. E is doing well. He is a reference from a less active family. He is progressing and completing his commitments and has actually been a strong pillar for this family. He attends church and studies and really has the desire to do what is right. D is the boyfriend of a less active member. He is in the process of getting divorced so that he can marry his girlfriend (the member he is living with). We've spoken with them about obedience, chastity, the temple, and also many of the lessons to help reforce her testimony and build his. Yesterday D expressed to us his desire to be baptized. He is doing his part to get things worked out with his divorce and said that he wants to get married as soon as possible. He began as an apathetic investigator, but is actually studying and praying and attending church and little by little seeing the blessings of the Lord. He also really connected with the story of Joseph Smith.

This week we couldn't do divisions because I got sick again. But I am feeling much better and the mission nurse is aware and helping me. Today we dropped off little notes we wrote to all the sisters in our areas. The other day we were talking about what we wanted to do with our assignment: not just the basic, but all we are able to do (Doctrine and Covenants 123:17).

Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; 

and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, 

to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.

I had a really interesting dream the other day that I decided I want to share. Dreams never really make that much sense, so just bear with me. I guess I was asked to plan a ward activity here in Quito and I decided I wanted the theme to be the restoration/Joseph Smith. I had it all planned and a lot of people showed up and it was going really well but something turned wrong and some members started showing another church video which was not what I had planned. I was trying to exercise patience so I just let them do their thing, knowing that at least I would be able to close by sharing my testimony. But the video just went on and on and everyone started leaving because they were bored. I finally stood up at front and started to bear my testimony about Joseph Smith and nobody listened. They were all putting the chairs away and then they started to try to take the mic from me. It was so weird (I am laughing to myself as I type this) but they were not letting me share my testimony. I felt so strongly that I needed to testify of the importance of the restoration and the validity of Joseph Smith. Anyway, that is how the dream ended, they were like following me through the chapel and I was anxiously trying to bear my testimony in the mic. WEIRD. What does that all mean? HAHA. Since that day I have been doing my best to always testify of Joseph Smith. I really do know he was a prophet called of God to restore the church! I just wanted to share it because I remembered what was happening to me before the mission. I remember that article I was writing and all the research I had to do for it and how the adversary took advantage of the situation and really shook my testimony. I know today that everything is okay though. I am glad I have been able to strengthen my testimony and have these experiences.

Another funny story. My companion has accumulated a lot of things here in the mission and yesterday she called the assistants to ask for permission to drop off a package in a bus station (Quitumbe) just outside of the limits of our mission. The bus would take it to the station in her home town and her family would pick it up. The assistants gave us permission. Today we went to Quitumbe and it was a long trip. I didn't have any money because our dueña had just passed by the apartment to ask for the money for the light and water and I literally gave her all I had left. Hermana Cantos had almost twenty dollars and was paying for the bus (which is 25 cents) until I could get to a money machine and pull out personal money. Well, in the bus on the way to Quitumbe someone robbed Hermana Cantos without us knowing. We got to the station, couldn't send the package, didn't have any money to get back to our mission, and while we were waiting trying to figure out what to do, I realized I couldn't even go to the bathroom! The bathroom entrance fee is 15 cents and we literally did not have anything. I called the secretaries (secretly wishing that Sam were my mission secretary at that moment) and we all just laughed. We took a taxi to the offices and they paid for it. The good thing is we had permission, so it was just a funny incident. But my poor companion! Her $20 and her cedula (ID type of thing) and everything : Needless to say it has been a long day.

Well, Hermana C is finishing her mission soon, as you know, and she is doing a good job of really reflecting on what she has learned and also taking advantage of every second left. I have learned a lot from her. She lives with her inactive siblings and stepdad, who is sick. Her mom passed away years ago. She was a source of support for her family and siblings before the mission, but had the desire to serve a mission. She worried about leaving her family, but took the step. The Lord has been watching over them during her whole mission. Last week she received an email from a sibling saying that they had attended church that Sunday for the first time since she has been gone. It has been such a beautiful blessing for her. I feel so grateful to be her companion and learn from her. I have been very blessed during my life and feel like the mission is helping me so much to put things into perspective. I will never forget these experiences. 

Hermana Norton